Apartheid-era police officer Johan Marais has been sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment by the Pretoria High Court for the murder of student activist, Caiphus Nyoka, in 1987.
The sentence comes after Marais, who is a former Section Leader of the Reaction Unit 6 in Dunnottar. pleaded guilty and was convicted of premeditated murder of Nyoka.
Delivering judgment, Judge Mokhine Mosopa, said the sentence fit the punishment, serve as a deterrent and retribution, adding that Marais has failed to apologise to Nyoka’s family, 37 years after the incident.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, has welcomed the sentence.
“This sentence reflects the NPA and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (DPCI) commitment to ensuring accountability for atrocious crimes that were referred to the NPA by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
TRC matters, in their nature and due to the very long lapse of time, disintegration of evidence and lack of availability of critical witnesses, are very difficult to investigate and prosecute.
This sentence is therefore significant and impactful, not only for the state and society, but most importantly for the victims’ families to finally find closure.
The NPA is resolute in ensuring prosecution and justice for the victims’ families,” said Mahanjana.
At the time of his death, Nyoka was a student activist and a member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS).
The 23-year-old Nyoka was shot nine times by Marais and his accomplices, during a raid at his parents’ home in Daveyton.
Mariais co-accused, Louis van den Berg and Abraham Engelbrecht, have both pleaded not guilty to the charges, and are still standing trial for the same matter at the Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni.
